In 2023
we achieved
amazing things
together
Scroll down to discover the impact we’ve had, or jump to our summary if you are short on time 🙂
Together,
WE DOUBLED
PARTICIPANT NUMBERS
reaching over 23,000 young people
Together,
we helped ensure that young people
FELT LIKE THEY BELONG
felt more active
felt more confident
felt more included
And achieved
SO MUCH MORE
Super 1s became available in every county, Scotland and Wales...
one year ahead of schedule
Two former Super 1s participants became the first to start their disability cricket journey in a grassroots disability cricket programme...
then go on to represent their national team
Two former Super 1s participants became the first to start their disability cricket journey in a grassroots disability cricket programme...
then go on to represent their national team
Cricket sessions were delivered in over 400 new SEND schools for young people with special educational needs and disabilities...
benefitting nearly 13,000 children
30% increase
in the number of Wicketz and Super 1s hubs
30% increase
in the number of Wicketz and Super 1s hubs
42% increase
in female participation
our goals
We measure our impact on young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities across the UK through the following outcomes:
What did we achieve?
of our participants said they
felt more active
+
of our participants said they
feel more optimistic about the future
how did we achieve it?
Wicketz Hubs
Super 1s Hubs
National Residentials
Regional Wicketz Festivals
health and wellbeing workshops delivered
Competitions
Why focus on improving activity levels?
Children living in deprived areas are substantially more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Access to sport and facilities is a major issue for young people living with a disability. Regular activity, be it physical exercise or social activity that makes you feel like you’re part of something, is vital for young people’s physical and mental health.
Orlaith's Story
This is perfect for Orlaith to get involved in a sport that’s purposefully designed so that she can take part
What did we achieve?
of our participants said they
felt more confident
+
of our participants said they
feel more able to make friends
How did we achieve it?
female only hubs
The development of female only Wicketz hubs is helping women and girls feel more confident in engaging with cricket.
residentials
Our residentials allowed participants to experience spending time away from home and build up confidence engaging with different people from different backgrounds and regions of the country.
weekly hub sessions
Regular sessions give young people the opportunity to be part of a positive activity every week with their peers and benefit from a healthy alternative to heavy social media use and feelings of isolation.
Confidence is key for personal development
Self-esteem and confidence are crucial to the development of young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities. Both can provide a springboard towards an increased sense of wellbeing and a platform to grow as a person within their community. Confidence is also vital for keeping feelings of depression and loneliness at bay and our programmes offer an environment where young people can thrive through regular activity at local community hubs with peers, which can benefit all aspects of health.
Connor's Story
Cricket has saved my life
Connor, who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, attends Super 1s in Somerset. His parents were told he wasn’t going to be able to walk when he was a child. Now, he’s a fully-fledged member of the Yeovil Super 1s hub, runs some of the sessions, coaches at his local cricket club and is also a personal trainer.
What did we achieve?
of our participants said they
felt more included
+
of our participants said they
felt more independent
+
of Wicketz participants
live in the 30% most deprived areas in the UK
How did we achieve it?
Inter-Hub competitions
life skills workshops on key local issues
Bringing young people and communities together
We want young people with disabilities and from deprived areas to feel that cricket is a game for them. Our inclusive cricket programmes actively draw in young people facing the challenges of inequality to a community setting where they can be more active alongside others sharing similar life experiences. Participating in regular local cricket sessions gives young people involved, and their parents or carers, the chance to tackle these challenges together.
Bilaal's Story
Wicketz has made me a better person
Wicketz is not just about cricket, it’s a catalyst for positive change and breaking down barriers in communities. For young people like Bilaal, it’s a pathway to enhancing social cohesion and learning essential life skills.
Impact Summary
What did we deliver?
felt more active
felt more confident
felt more included
(up from 10,033 last year)
(up from 6,060 last year)
(up from 277 last year)
(up from 22,043 last year)
Our Work in SEND Schools
Following the introduction of our work in SEND schools at the start of the last academic year thanks to additional funding from the ECB, we reached nearly 600 SEND schools and just over 19,000 young people with a disability through cricket, which includes over 400 new schools 13,000 participants getting access to the game through school for the first time.
This has ensured we have more than doubled the number of participants we have reached through all our programmes this year, and provided participants with a disability a safe space to play a sport that they wouldn’t have otherwise.
Super 1s employability focus
Our vision is for participants to have the opportunity to learn key skills that prepare them for the working world through CV and personal statement writing workshops, mock interview days and work experience within the county where they attend Super 1s sessions.
As well as providing an opportunity for participants to develop these key skills, this also provides a great chance for organisations providing the work experience to promote inclusion and diversity internally, which is vital in reducing the stigma around disabled people within the workplace and reducing the inequalities they experience.
Becoming more impactful: Learnings and future development
Over recent years we have continually looked to identify where we can be even more impactful. In striving to achieve this we are designing solutions and approaches to meet our objectives. The primary areas identified for development are…
LEARNING
- Our approach to defining, capturing, analysing and reporting our impact needs to be more robust to ensure we are as impactful as we can be.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
- Partner with, and implement, Trust Impact recommendations.
- Develop our Theory of Change.
- Measure what matters.
- Develop innovative data reporting and visualisation.
LEARNING
- Our approach to defining, capturing, analysing and reporting our impact needs to be more robust to ensure we are as impactful as we can be.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
- Partner with, and implement, Trust Impact recommendations.
- Develop our Theory of Change.
- Measure what matters.
- Develop innovative data reporting and visualisation.
LEARNING
- Our programme design and approach should be driven more by young people and our target cohort.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Embed youth engagement and empowerment culture across the charity.
People with lived experience from the communities we work in will help inform and shape our programmes.
LEARNING
- We should be driven by where we are most impactful and where there is the greatest need.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Develop data driven insights to identify need.
Prioritise engaging more women and girls.
Diversify and tailor our disability cricket programmes.
Greater collaboration with partners.
Expand and develop our workshop toolkits.
Develop expanded and greater employability offers.
Develop our Cricket Kit Recycling approach.
LEARNING
Recruit, retain and deploy a higher quality workforce.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Implement strategies for Development Officers and Coaches to ensure consistency in talent retention.
Diversify our workforce to ensure that it is more representative of all communities our programmes exist to support.
Working with Trust Impact
We are determined to become even more impactful. In 2024 we will continue to partner with leading industry experts Trust Impact to improve our capability to define, capture and articulate how impactful we are. Our priority in 2024 is to complete the ongoing work to establish our Theory of Change model with the support of Trust Impact.
our programmes
Purpose
We exist to empower and positively impact the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality.
vision
Every young person can overcome the challenges of inequality and achieve their potential.
mission
Deliver high quality cricket programmes that empower young people facing inequality to make positive choices, improve their health and wellbeing and achieve positive outcomes.
Super 1s
A community programme for young people with disabilities aged 12-25 which provides them with the opportunity to play regular cricket and enjoy the benefits of playing sport.
Table Cricket
An adapted form of cricket played on a table tennis table, aimed at young people with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities.
Wicketz
A community cricket programme aimed at young people living in areas of deprivation, using cricket as a tool for social change.
Cricket Kit Recycling
A programme which enables young people to access cricket kit and equipment that allows them to take part regularly in the sport.
Thank you!
The impact highlighted in this report has been made possible thanks to the efforts of all our supporters, members, volunteers, donors, trusts and foundations and partners, who continue to help us deliver and improve upon the work we do in empowering young people facing the challenge of inequality.
help more young people feel like they belong
Join our regular giving community empowering young people at risk of exclusion every day of the year
SUPPORTED BY
Registered Charity No. 306054
Office of the Scottish Charities
Regular No. SCO46238
Registered Charity No. 306054
Office of the Scottish Charities
Regular No. SCO46238